In the Household of the King
With true friends you share tragedy as well as good times. King David had few friends. His true friend was Prince Jonathan. This is in a worldly way weird; the Prince was in line to become king of Israel. David was now God’s chosen king-to-be, and the young men were still best buddies. David went into exile for seven years, and Prince Jonathan died with his father, the king, in battle. David becomes the loved and established king of united Israel. Being king was a lonely life; David longed for the best friend of his youth.
The quest, “Is there a descendant of Jonathan left alive?” A servant found a crippled youth in the wilderness. His name was Mephibosheth, and David brought him to the palace and made him family to dwell in his household.
“And Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was crippled in both feet.” (2 Samuel 9:13)
The crippled youth from the wilderness became an honored member of the king’s household (as one of the king’s sons). Like us strangers and foreigners from the wilderness of sin, now a part of the King’s household.